Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN TX - Yet another attack at the education of undocumented students has been taken by Tyler lawmaker State Rep. Leo Berman who has filed an amendment measure to House Bill 1 (HB 1) - the appropriations bill scheduled to be heard on Friday April 1 by Texas lawmakers in Austin. And Texas State Representative Roberto R. Alonzo of Dallas has already made it clear that he will do all he can to garner enough support from both aisles of the political landscape to defeat the measure.
I am saddened to hear that once again one my colleagues has filed legislation which would ban in-state tuition rates for undocumented students in Texas - something which has consistently failed in the past to muster a majority support of legislators. Even the Texas Association of Business and colleges and universities across the state have gone on record opposing this Arizona-type legislation said Rep. Alonzo.
There is no doubt in my mind that this measure will face the same fate as other undocumented immigrant-friendly measures that have come before the Texas Legislature not only this session but in past sessions. All this will do in the long is only serve to create more animosity division and tension between lawmakers specifically and Texas citizens in general all over the state. While similar measures have successfully passed and even been challenged in California and Kansas courts experts maintain that this Texas law (HB 1403 passed in 2001) does not violate federal law. Some Texas policymakers just dont get it and they continue to make every attempt to ban this much-needed law which has already proven successful for over 10 years stated Rep. Alonzo.
As I have always said in the past and I cannot reiterate the issue enough I firmly believe that every capable student should have the benefits of going to a college or university regardless of family income status ethnicity prior collegiate track record in the immediate family and even citizenship status. In the end a more educated benefits all of Texas.
Equally important all Texans should have the opportunity to succeed professionally and survive economically in our society whether it be in urban rural suburban east west north or south Texas. With our changing demographics and population makeup now shifted toward a more minority majority state Texans of all ethnic backgrounds income levels philosophical beliefs and gender should have that opportunity today - more so than ever before. Once again I cannot stress how important it is that we must be better prepared as a state and nation to be able to educate that shifting population. That includes all immigrant students who are already part of our states ethnic and demographic fiber continued Rep. Alonzo.
An accessible affordable college education for all qualified students - including our immigrant students - should be a top priority for all Texans if we are to be well-prepared and effectively equipped to meet the diverse complex challenges and technology-oriented opportunities of the next generation. Generally most of the research data is replete with statistics showing that those with college degrees are better off economically than those with only a high school education. Additionally nowadays most good-paying jobs require more than just a mere high school education if individuals are to be successful in their future careers and at the same time be able to retire with a long quality life that is fulfilled and prosperous continued Rep. Alonzo.
As a Texas lawmaker and former recipient of many grant and scholarship programs that helped me obtain my own college education I have always been an advocate of financial aid programs that help students achieve their dream of a higher education. Financial aid is just another excellent opportunity for many students to achieve their dreams beyond high school continued Rep. Alonzo.
Moreover in light of the current economic situation coupled with the fact that tuition institutional fees and the overall costs of getting a college education continues to escalate I urge all students and their parents to take advantage of all forms of financial assistance programs to open doors wider and encourage increased participation by all Texas students. Measures like Rep. Bermans that would ban those opportunities would only serve to close those doors concluded Rep. Alonzo.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN TX - Yet another attack at the education of undocumented students has been taken by Tyler lawmaker State Rep. Leo Berman who has filed an amendment measure to House Bill 1 (HB 1) - the appropriations bill scheduled to be heard on Friday April 1 by Texas lawmakers in Austin. And Texas State Representative Roberto R. Alonzo of Dallas has already made it clear that he will do all he can to garner enough support from both aisles of the political landscape to defeat the measure.
I am saddened to hear that once again one my colleagues has filed legislation which would ban in-state tuition rates for undocumented students in Texas - something which has consistently failed in the past to muster a majority support of legislators. Even the Texas Association of Business and colleges and universities across the state have gone on record opposing this Arizona-type legislation said Rep. Alonzo.
There is no doubt in my mind that this measure will face the same fate as other undocumented immigrant-friendly measures that have come before the Texas Legislature not only this session but in past sessions. All this will do in the long is only serve to create more animosity division and tension between lawmakers specifically and Texas citizens in general all over the state. While similar measures have successfully passed and even been challenged in California and Kansas courts experts maintain that this Texas law (HB 1403 passed in 2001) does not violate federal law. Some Texas policymakers just dont get it and they continue to make every attempt to ban this much-needed law which has already proven successful for over 10 years stated Rep. Alonzo.
As I have always said in the past and I cannot reiterate the issue enough I firmly believe that every capable student should have the benefits of going to a college or university regardless of family income status ethnicity prior collegiate track record in the immediate family and even citizenship status. In the end a more educated benefits all of Texas.
Equally important all Texans should have the opportunity to succeed professionally and survive economically in our society whether it be in urban rural suburban east west north or south Texas. With our changing demographics and population makeup now shifted toward a more minority majority state Texans of all ethnic backgrounds income levels philosophical beliefs and gender should have that opportunity today - more so than ever before. Once again I cannot stress how important it is that we must be better prepared as a state and nation to be able to educate that shifting population. That includes all immigrant students who are already part of our states ethnic and demographic fiber continued Rep. Alonzo.
An accessible affordable college education for all qualified students - including our immigrant students - should be a top priority for all Texans if we are to be well-prepared and effectively equipped to meet the diverse complex challenges and technology-oriented opportunities of the next generation. Generally most of the research data is replete with statistics showing that those with college degrees are better off economically than those with only a high school education. Additionally nowadays most good-paying jobs require more than just a mere high school education if individuals are to be successful in their future careers and at the same time be able to retire with a long quality life that is fulfilled and prosperous continued Rep. Alonzo.
As a Texas lawmaker and former recipient of many grant and scholarship programs that helped me obtain my own college education I have always been an advocate of financial aid programs that help students achieve their dream of a higher education. Financial aid is just another excellent opportunity for many students to achieve their dreams beyond high school continued Rep. Alonzo.
Moreover in light of the current economic situation coupled with the fact that tuition institutional fees and the overall costs of getting a college education continues to escalate I urge all students and their parents to take advantage of all forms of financial assistance programs to open doors wider and encourage increased participation by all Texas students. Measures like Rep. Bermans that would ban those opportunities would only serve to close those doors concluded Rep. Alonzo.
